Mammalian tolloid-like gene and protein

ABSTRACT

A mammalian gene encoding a tolloid-like protein distinct from human or murine BMP-1/mTld is presented. The gene is similar in structure to members of the BMP-1 family of genes, but maps to a distinct location and encodes a distinct protein. The protein encoded by the gene can be used to screen putative therapeutic agents in an ongoing effort to inhibit activity of the BMP-1 family of genes to prevent scarring, fibrosis, and the like.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application No. 60/018,684 filed May 30, 1996.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to the field of bone morphogenetic proteins and more particularly to a gene in the BMP-1/Tld family of genes.

[0004] Bone formation in mammals such as mice and humans is governed by a set of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP). Of the seven BMPs known to participate in osteogenesis, six (designated BMP-2 through BMP-7) belong to the TGF-β super family. The seventh BMP (designated BMP-1) is not TGF-β-like, but instead appears to derive from a different gene family. The BMP-1 gene family members typically contain the following domains: an astacin-like metalloprotease domain, one or more EGF-like motifs which in other proteins are thought to bind Ca⁺⁺, and a number of CUB domains. A CUB domain is a motif that mediates protein-protein interactions in complement components Clr/Cls which has also been identified in various proteins involved in developmental processes. BMP-1 was described, at the nucleotide sequence level, by Wozney, J. M., et al., Science 242:1528-1534 (1988).

[0005] The mammalian BMP-1 domain structure is shared by proteins found in other non-mammalian species. These proteins include Drosophila tolloid (Tld) (Shimell, M. J., Cell 67:469-481 (1991)), a tolloid-like Drosophila gene product (Tlr-1 or tolkin) (Nguyen, T., Dev. Biol. 166:569-586 (1994) and Finelli, A. L., et al., Genetics 141:271-281 (1995)), a sea urchin BMP-1 homolog (suBMP-1) (Hwang, S. -P., et al., Development 120:559-568 (1994)), two related sea urchin developmental gene products, SpAN and BP10 (Reynolds, S. D., et al., Development 114:769-786 (1992) and Lepage, T., et al., Development 114:147-164 (1992)), a Xenopus BMP-1 (xBMP-1) (Maeno, M. et al., Gene 134:257-261 (1993) and a mammalian tolloid (mTld) (Takahara, K. et al., J. Biol. Chem. 269:32572-32578 (1994)). A tolloid-like gene (xolloid) obtained from Xenopus has been briefly mentioned in passing in a article reviewing the astacin family of metalloproteases. Bond, J. S. and R. J. Benynon, Protein Science 4:1247-1261 at 1249 (1995), but data relating to the gene itself has not been published. Some of the nucleic acid sequences of the genes that encode these proteins are known. The mammalian BMP1 gene encodes both the BMP-1 protein and the mTld protein, albeit on two distinct, alternately spliced mRNA molecules. The papers mentioned in this paragraph are incorporated herein by reference.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention is summarized in that a novel mammalian tolloid-like gene product (mTll) and its cognate gene, which is distinct from mTld and from all other known BMP-1 related proteins and genes, are described. The murine and human versions of the gene are reported.

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a gene and gene product involved in the deposition of extracellular matrix in vertebrates (e.g. in osteogenesis).

[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide a target molecule for rational development of a drug for inhibiting activity of the tolloid-like genes to treat fibrosis, scarring, keloids, surgical adhesions, and the like.

[0009] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a recombinant DNA construct, and a protein encoded by the construct, for use in accelerated wound and fracture healing.

[0010] It is still another object of the present invention to provide a marker gene that maps to the central portion of mouse chromosome 8.

[0011] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a marker gene that maps to the 4q32-4q33 region of human chromosome 4.

[0012] It is still another object of the present invention to provide a nucleotide sequence that functions as a probe for a non-BMP-1 bone morphogenetic protein gene in mammalian cells.

[0013] It is a feature of the present invention that the murine gene described contains a novel simple sequence repeat in the 3′-untranslated region of the gene.

[0014] Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 presents a map of the murine mTll cDNA including 5′- and 3′-untranslated portions thereof. Also aligned beneath the mTll cDNA for comparison are schematic representations of cDNA clones of related genes, drawn to the same scale as mTll. Portions of the cDNA corresponding to domains of the gene product are highlighted. Stippled, darkly shaded, striped, lightly shaded, and black boxes represent signal peptide, proregion, metalloprotease, CUB, and EGF domains, respectively. White boxes represent domains unique to the various proteins. Wavy lines represent 5′- and 3′-untranslated regions. Abbreviations: mTld, mammalian tolloid; mBMP-1, mammalian BMP-1; xBMP-1, xenopus BMP-1; suBMP-1, sea urchin BMP-1; Tld, Drosophila tolloid; Tlr-1, Drosophila tolloid-related gene; SpAN and BP10, related sea urchin developmental genes. Restriction enzymes include: Bg, BglII; C, ClaI; E, EcoRI; H, HincII; N, NcoI; S, SmaI; St, StuI.

[0016]FIG. 2 aligns the amino acid sequence of the disclosed mTll gene to that of the mTld gene. The domain structure common to both proteins is shown schematically. Domains are represented as in FIG. 1. Alignment was performed using the GAP program (Genetics Computer Group, Madison, Wis.), with a GAP weight of 3.0 and GAP length weight of 0.1, with some additional manual alignment of putative signal peptide sequences. Cysteines are boxed, potential Asn-linked glycosylation sites are underlined and the metalloendopeptidase active site motif HEXXH is enclosed by a dashed box.

[0017]FIG. 3 shows a schematic map of the central portion of mouse chromosome 8. The Map Manager program (Manly K., “A Macintosh Program for Storage and Analysis of Experimental Genetic Mapping Data,” Mammalian Genome 4:301-313 (1993) compared segregation data for Tll and for other loci from the TJL BSS backcross panel, performed the linkage analysis and generated the map. The TJL SS backcross panel data are available on the Jackson Laboratories Public Data Base (http://www.jax.org/Resources/documents/cmdata).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] A substantially pure preparation of the mammalian tolloid-like (mTll) cDNA was isolated from mice by probing a cDNA library prepared from embryo fibroblasts of mouse strain BMP-1^(tmlblh) with an approximately 330 base-pair AatII-DrdI restriction fragment of the mouse BMP-1 gene and screening at low stringency, as is described in more detail in the examples below. BMP-1^(tmlblh) is a BMP-1 knockout (KO) mouse that is homozygous for a null allele of the BMP-1 gene. The probe, shown in SEQ ID NO:1, corresponds to a segment of the 360 base pair portion of the BMP-1 gene that is absent from the BMP-1^(tmlblh) knockout strain. Since BMP-1 is absent from the cDNA library, the screen uncovered only sequences related to, but distinct from, BMP-1 at the DNA sequence level.

[0019] A single region of the genome was uncovered in the screening (see FIG. 1). Overlapping cDNA clones KO 3 and KO 7-2, obtained in the initial screen as substantially pure preparations covered much, but not all, of the coding sequence. Screening was performed under low stringency using standard protocols (Ausubel, F. M., et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Wiley, New York (1987)CA). The remainder of the coding sequence was obtained by re-screening the embryo fibroblast cDNA library at high stringency to reveal an additional clone (KO 8-2) that extended into the 5′-untranslated portion of the gene. Clone KO 8-2 was also obtained as a substantially pure preparation.

[0020] One of ordinary skill in the art can join the separate cloned sequences together, as the inventors have done, to produce the complete full-length cDNA shown in SEQ ID NO:2. Presented herein as SEQ ID NO:2 is an open reading frame of 3039 base pairs flanked by 5′- and 3′- untranslated sequences. The open reading frame encodes a mammalian tolloid-like protein termed mTll. The sequence presented herein represents the combined nucleic acid sequences of three cDNA clones (KO 3, KO 7-2 and KO 8-2). In the 3′ untranslated region of the mTll gene is a previously unreported simple sequence repeat (SSR). The SSR has the following sequence: (GT)₂₀GC(GT)₇ GC(GT)₇GCAT(GT)₃GCAT(GT)₃ (shown at nucleotides 4148 to 4239 in SEQ ID NO:2). The sequence data presented in SEQ ID NO:2 will be available at Genbank Accession Number U34042.

[0021] A preparation of DNA molecules containing an mTll gene sequence from any source is considered substantially pure if more than 90% of any cellular material of any host cell in which the DNA has resided has been removed from the DNA preparation. Cellular material can be removed from a nucleic acid preparation, for example, by using a commercial purification kit such as is available from Qiagen (Chatsworth, CA). It is preferred that greater than 10% of the nucleic acid molecules in a nucleic acid preparation comprise the complete or partial mTll gene or a portion thereof. More preferably, greater than 50%, and yet more preferably, greater than 90%, of the nucleic acid molecules comprise the complete or partial sequence.

[0022] It is noted that additional genes having some relation to mTll and other members of the BMP-1 family might be isolated from double null embryo cDNA libraries lacking both BMP-1/mTld and mTll using a comparable screening strategy. Such double null mutant animals could be produced by mating animals heterozygous at each of the two loci.

[0023] The murine mTll gene maps to central chromosome 8 close to D8Bir22, which was placed at position 31 in the 1994 chromosome 8 committee report (Ceci, J. D., “Mouse Chromosome 8,” Mammalian Genome 5:S124-S138 (1994)). This same general chromosomal region is the map site of four genetic defects that lead to apparent developmental abnormalities: Hook (Hk), Adrenocortical dysplasia (Acd), Quinky (Q), and Proportional dwarf (pdw). BMP-1, in contrast, maps to mouse chromosome 14 (Ceci, J. D., et al., “An interspecific backcross linkage map of the proximal half of mouse chromosome 14,” Genomics 6:673-678 (1990).

[0024] A proposed murine mTll protein domain structure, predicted from sequence similarities to the m-tolloid protein product, is shown in FIG. 2. In view of the similarity to other tolloid-like proteins, it is expected that the product encoded by the disclosed mTll gene will be a protease having a key role in development and in homeostatic processes such as wound healing. It is likely that the protein is involved in maturation of extracellular matrix precursors into macromolecular structures. The protein may also have a role in activation of growth factors in vivo and in vitro, and may accelerate developmental and homeostatic processes when an effective amount of the protein is administered to a tissue. On the other hand, if the mTll protein function is inhibited, such processes may themselves be inhibited, which property can be exploited advantageously upon delivery of an effective amount of an inhibitor to prevent fibrosis and excess scarring or other abnormalities of wound healing. An effective amount of the protein to be delivered to a target site for activating developmental and homeostatic properties can readily be determined by testing a range of amounts of the protein on a selected veterinary species or on a model species having acknowledged biochemical or physiological similarity to humans. In the case of skin wound healing, for example, porcine skin is a suitable model for human skin. Likewise, an effective amount of an inhibitor of the Tll protein can also be determined. An effective amount is an amount effective upon administration to a wound that reduces the occurrence of fibrosis, scarring or keloids compared to an untreated wound, where the assessment of fibrosis, scarring or keloids is made according to accepted clinical or veterinary standards. Such a test is preferably performed in a model system generally accepted as having relevance to human skin.

[0025] The ability to work with proteins of the BMP system has been hampered by the fact that the proteins are typically present in very small amounts in animal tissues. It is herein demonstrated (see, infra) that mTll, a previously unknown gene, can be cloned into a suitable expression vector containing a transcriptional promoter effective in a suitable host cell, introduced into and expressed in the suitable host cells, and purified in a native configuration, all using conventional methods. The protein thus expressed can remain inside the host cell or can be secreted to the extracellular growth medium, if a suitable signal sequence is provided on the construct. The protein can be purified from the cell or from the growth medium by conventional methods.

[0026] A suitable promoter of transcription is the baculovirus very late promoter found on vector pFASTBac1, which vector is commercially available from Gibco-BRL. Another suitable promoter is baculovirus immediate early promoter such as is found on the pAcPIE1 vector (Novagen, Madison, Wis.). Any other advantageous expression elements such as enhancers, terminators, and the like, as are known to the art, can be included on the suitable expression vector. A suitable host would be insect tissue culture cells, such as cell line Sf21, Sf9, or High Five (Invitrogen, San Diego, Calif.).

[0027] Suitable portions of the gene comprising less than the full coding sequence can also be advantageously cloned into the suitable expression vector to form a recombinant genetic construct. It is understood that a construct prepared in accordance with the invention, need not necessarily contain the entire mTll locus or coding region, but could contain one or more portions thereof encoding a desired function, or containing a portion of the gene having other useful properties, for example, complementarity to a desired genomic sequence. It is understood by those of ordinary skill that certain variation in the size or sequence of the mtll protein (and in the corresponding genetic material encoding the mTll protein) will not interfere with the functions thereof. Such modified forms can be engineered using known methods that may be advantageously employed when constructing genetic constructs containing the complete or partial mTll gene, and in proteins encoded thereby.

[0028] Such changes, modifications, additions and deletions are contemplated to fall within the scope of the present invention, as long as the protein retains a desired function known to be associated with other members of this protein family. The protein is competent if it retains an ability to cleave laminin-5 in a standard assay for such cleavage. It is also desired that the protein retain a C-proteinase activity against procollagen as was described for BMP-1 by Kessler, E., et al., Science 271:360-362 (1996), incorporated herein by reference. One of ordinary skill is familiar with the necessary controls that should accompany any such assay. It may, alternatively, be desired that the protein lose a certain function as a result of such a change, and such a situation is also envisioned to be within the scope of the present invention.

[0029] A substantially pure preparation of the protein thus produced is defined as a preparation wherein the laminin-5-cleaving activity of the mTll protein is not affected by the presence of other proteins or molecules in the preparation. Depending upon the use to which the protein will be put, it may be that the mTll protein accounts for at least 10%, preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 75%, and most preferably at least 95% of the protein in the substantially pure protein preparation. The protein preparation can be enhanced for the protein of interest by labeling the protein with an affinity tag and passing the preparation over a column having an affinity for the tag. It is also possible to employ a processing tag such that a properly processed form of the protein (lacking the cleaved proregion) can be eluted from a column loaded with a crude preparation.

[0030] The mTll translation product (SEQ ID NO:3) predicted from the DNA sequence has a predicted molecular weight of 114,532 (pI 6.15). If the translation product is cleaved between the proregion and the protease domain at the boundary shown in FIG. 2, the predicted molecular weight for the mature protease would be 98,007 (pI 6.18).

[0031] When the murine mTll protein sequence is compared to other tolloid-like genes, no obvious homology exists between the proregion of either of the two mammalian proteins (mTld and mTll) and the proregion of either of the two Drosophila proteins (Tld or Tlr-1). The protease domain of mTll was 66% similar (47% identical) to Tld and was 69% similar (52% identical) to Tlr-1. mTll is slightly more similar in sequence to both Drosophila proteins than is mTld, and there is no obvious correlation between a particular member of the mammalian protein pair and a particular member of the Drosophila protein pair. An aligned pair of amino acids are “similar” if they have a threshold of similarity above 0.5 by the scoring system of Schwartz and Dayhoff, Atlas of Protein Sequence and Structure, Dayhoff, M. O., ed., National Biomedical Research Foundation, Washington, D.C., p. 353-358 (1979).

[0032] The mTll mRNA transcript appears not to be alternatively spliced since only a single transcript was detected using a fragment of clone KO 3 internal to the coding region as a probe (SEQ ID NO:2, nucleotides 1113 to 2745) and because only a single mTll cDNA was isolated during the cDNA library screenings.

[0033] Relatively strong mTll mRNA expression was observed in adult brain and kidney, with somewhat lower expression in RNA from lung and skeletal muscle, and very low expression in RNA from heart and testes. No signal was apparent for spleen or liver. After the Northern Blot was exposed for 60 hours, a very faint signal could be detected for liver, although no signal from spleen was detected.

[0034] The mRNA expression pattern of mtll differs from that previously reported for BMP-1 transcripts and mTld transcripts. Low expression levels are seen even in seven day post-coitum total embryo RNA. The mRNA level increases slightly at eleven days of development, peaks at relatively high levels at fifteen days, and then decreases in seventeen day embryos. In contrast, BMP-1 and mTld transcripts were observed at higher levels in seven day embryos than in eleven day embryos. The same blot was used to monitor the mTll, BMP-1, and mTld transcript levels.

[0035] The mTll mRNA transcripts were detected throughout embryonic development in the period of 9.5 to 15.5 days post-coitum. As was previously observed with mTld RNA, mTll signals were observed throughout the mesenchyme, with higher levels overlying areas of future bone and the ventral portion of the neural tube. A strong signal, seen in the same portion of the ventral hindbrain in which signal was previously observed for mTld, is consistent with expression of mTll in the floor plate. A regular pattern of strong expression was observed overlying the connective tissue between the developing vertebra. The high mTll signal observed in the mesenchyma of the developing lung contrasts with the absence, or very low level, of expression in liver which mirrors the relative amounts of mtll mRNA found in adult mouse lung and liver by Northern Blot analysis. In a parasagittal section of a 13.5 day post-coitum embryo, expression was observed in mesenchymal elements of the developing tongue, nasal process, and jaw and in the submucosal layer in loops of the developing intestine. mTll expression was observed overlying a developing atrioventricular valve of the heart.

[0036] A major difference between the distribution of mTll and mTld mRNA in developing mouse tissues is seen overlying the neuroepithelium in the vestibular area of the floor of the fourth ventricle of the developing brain where strong mTll expression was consistently observed, in various sections, and where neither mTld nor BMP expression has been observed. mTll RNA expression was observed, in a number of sections, to overlie the neuroepithelial lining of the ventricles and aqueduct of neonatal brain. mTll expression was also observed overlying specific nuclei within the thalamus and the neuroepithelial lining of the lateral ventricles. In adult brain, strong mTll expression was observed in the granular layer of the cerebellum. Weaker mTll expression was also observed overlying other structures of the neonatal and adult mouse brain. Northern blot analysis of RNA from various portions of human brain has also detected relatively strong signal for mTll in the human cerebellum.

[0037] Another difference noted between the distribution of mTll mRNA and that previously described for mTld was in a developing spinal cord where mTll expression was more extensive than was previously noted for mTld, extending beyond the floor plate toward more dorsal portions of the spinal cord. In other developing tissues, the distribution of mTll and mTld transcripts appear to overlap.

[0038] It is specifically envisioned that equivalents of the mTll gene can be isolated from other species, by probing a cDNA library from cells of an appropriate species with a probe selected to include an mTll-specific portion of the described mouse gene. An mTll-specific portion of the mouse mTll gene can be obtained by comparing the nucleic acid sequence of the mouse mTll coding region to that of BMP-1/mTld and selecting a portion of the mTll gene that has no equivalent in BMP-1. To be an effective probe, the selected sequence should not contain repeat sequences that would cross-hybridize to numerous genomic sites. The probe should be at least about 200 bases long. It is recognized that the genes of the BMP-1 family are most variable in the regions that encode the proregion and the C-terminal 17 amino acids of the proteins, and it is anticipated that suitable probes can be isolated from those regions of the mTll gene. In SEQ ID NO:2, this region corresponds to the sequence shown between about bases 3599 and 3650 for the C-terminal portion and about 701-1051 for the proregion. Such a fragment can be converted into a probe by nick translation, end labeling, or other suitable technique known to the art. It is also understood that a desired fragment (or indeed an entire gene) can be synthesized in vitro using well-known techniques available to the molecular biologist.

[0039] This has been accomplished using human source DNA. To obtain human mTll sequences, a 677 bp NdeI-Eco72I fragment of mouse mTll cDNA clone KO 3, corresponding to a portion of CUB4 and all of CUB5 and the carboxy terminus, was used to screen a human placenta genomic DNA library. Genomic clone 151-2 was isolated which contained the final three exons of the human TLL gene. A 339 bp TaqI fragment of mouse mTll cDNA KO 7-2, corresponding to a part of the proregion was then used to screen the same human genomic DNA library resulting in isolation of genomic clones 5-2 and 8, each of which contained the first, 5′-most, exon of the Tll gene. Oligonucleotide primers were synthesized corresponding to sequences in the 5′- and 3′- untranslated regions and were used with cDNA synthesized from human fetal cartilage RNA for long distance PCR amplification of the remainder of TLL coding sequences. The forward primer was 5′-TCTTGCAGTCAGTTGCTTTGCTGG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:10). The reverse primer was 5′-TAGTGCGGCCGCACATTCCTTTGTGTTC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:11).

[0040] The nucleic acid sequence of human mTll is shown in SEQ ID NO:4. The protein encoded by the gene is shown in SEQ ID NO:5. The gene (or portions thereof) can be used in the same ways as the murine gene, but with the additional benefit for genetic therapies, diagnoses, and the like, since there is no need to adapt the gene for use in humans, as could be the case for the mouse mTll gene.

[0041] Because defects in mTll may lead to genetic abnormalities in people, the chromosomal position of the human TLL gene was established. A 527 bp cDNA PCR product, corresponding to the last 3 exons of the human TLL gene, was hybridized to Southern blots of EcoRI-digested genomic DNA from panels of human-mouse cell hybrids. Strong hybridization to ˜5.1 and 9.5 kb human bands was observed and examination of DNA from 30 hybrid lines, derived from 17 unrelated human cell lines and 4 mouse cells lines (Takahara, K., et al., J. Biol. Chem. 269: 26280-26285 (1994)), showed that the segregation of TLL correlated with the distribution of human chromosome 4. Of the cell hybrids examined, one that retained a translocation of human chromosome 4 further localized TLL to the chromosome 4 long arm. Cell hybrid 55R16 has no intact chromosome 4 but retains the {fraction (11/4)} translocation 11qter-11p13::4q25-4qter. These results localized TLL to the 4q25-4qter region. The TLL gene was independently mapped by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on human metaphase chromosome spreads by the method of Trask, B., Methods Cell Biol. 35: 1-35 (1992). Human genomic DNA clone 8, which contains the TLL first exon and has an insert size of approximately 16 kb, was labeled with digoxygenin-11-dUTP (Boehringer Mannheim) by random priming (Feinberg, A. P., and B. Vogelstein, B. Anal. Biochem. 132: 6-13 (1983)) and employed as a probe for FISH analysis. Images were obtained and analyzed as described (Takahara, K., et al., supra). Double fluorescent signals were found only at 4q32-4q33 in {fraction (16/18)} of the metaphase spreads examined (88.8%), with double fluorescent signals found on both chromosomes of {fraction (10/18)} metaphase spreads and on no other chromosome, localizing TLL to this region.

[0042] It should also be possible to use PCR to amplify a portion of a genome that corresponds to the mTll region, by selecting specific primers expected to flank the mTll gene (or any portion of the gene). Two mTll-specific portions of the gene can serve as suitable primers. It may not be effective to select primers outside the coding portion of the gene because reduced selective pressure on non-coding portions results in greater divergence between mice and other species in those regions. It is specifically noted that the genes of the BMP family from humans and model species such as the mouse are particularly sought after for their relation to human deformities (see, e.g., “The Chicken With a Duck's Feet: It's All in the Biochemical Signal,” The New York Times, National Edition, p. B6 (May 21, 1996)).

[0043] It is also specifically envisioned that large quantities of the protein encoded by the mTll gene can be expressed in (or secreted from) host cells, purified to a substantially pure preparation and used in subsequent functional assays. In one such functional assay, functional attributes of the expressed protein will be described. The protein functions are expected to include a metalloprotease activity, C-proteinase activity and laminin-5 processing activity, and an activating activity for TGF-β-like proteins, such predictions being reasonable in view of the gross structural similarity to known proteins at the domain level.

[0044] In another assay, the protein can be used to screen putative agents having inhibitory activity against the protein. Given that mTll is able to rescue BMP-1 knockout mice, it will be important for any therapeutic system that modifies or eliminates BMP-1 protein function to similarly alter the mtll protein function. Thus, any panel of such agents must be screened against mTll protein. In such an assay, all components of an assay that support mTll function can be added together, under suitable conditions of salt and pH, and combined with a panel of putative inhibitors of protein function. Using established assays of protein function (described in documents incorporated elsewhere herein by reference), it will be possible to determine whether any tested agent can inhibit protein activity, thereby making it a likely candidate for use in a therapeutic amount to inhibit fibrosis, reduce scarring, and reduce keloids. Such screening efforts are underway using related proteins from the BMP-1 family of genes. See Kessler, supra.

[0045] It is now also possible to embark upon a rational drug design strategy using the disclosed protein or fragments thereof. In doing so, the protein or fragments will be subjected to x-ray crystallographic analysis to determine their active sites and sites that are available for interaction with a putative therapeutic agent.

[0046] The protein encoded by BMP-1 was recently shown to cleave procollagen near the C-terminus. This C-proteinase activity, which is essential to the production of collagen, had long been thought to reside in a protein that had remained elusive. There is great commercial interest in harnessing the C-proteinase activity as a therapeutic agent in collagen-related diseases. Since mTll appears to be the only other mammalian gene closely related to BMP-1 (on the basis of the cDNA library screening results), it is also specifically contemplated that the protein encoded by mTll will be an alternative C-proteinase and, further, that the mTll gene can be utilized in the effort to produce an alternative C-proteinase, both by incorporating the gene into a recombinant vector for ex vivo production of therapeutic protein, and for direct administration in a genetic therapy. The human gene has particular utility for these applications.

[0047] The invention will be better understood upon consideration of the following non-limiting Examples.

EXAMPLES

[0048] BMP-1/mTld-null Mouse Embryo cDNA Library

[0049] Mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) were prepared as described (Hogan et al., “Manipulating the Mouse Embryo: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd Ed.,” pp. 260-261, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1994)). Ten 150 mm plates of MEFs prepared from embryos made homozygous for null alleles of the BMP-1/mTld gene (express no BMP-1/mTld proteins) were grown to confluence (in DMEM, 10% fetal calf serum), and 3 days later were treated with 50 μg/ml ascorbate for 18 hr, harvested, and 42 μg poly(A⁺) mRNA was isolated using a FastTrack kit (Invitrogen). A 5 μg aliquot of poly(A⁺) was then used for synthesis of double-stranded cDNA with EcoRI ends using the SuperScript Choice System (Gibco-BRL). This cDNA was then ligated to EcoRI-cut λgt10 arms and packaged using Gigapak II Gold packaging extract (Stratagene). The 5 μg of poly (A⁺) provided an unamplified library of ˜2.2×10⁶ PFUs. The randomly picked clones had an average insert size of ˜2.9 kb.

[0050] DNA Sequence Analysis

[0051] Restriction fragments were subcloned into pBluescript II KS⁺ and sequences were obtained from double-stranded templates by dideoxy chain termination, as described in Lee S. -T., et al., “Construction of a full-length cDNA encoding human pro-alpha 2(I) collagen and its expression in pro-alpha 2(I)-deficient W8 rat cells,” J. Biol. Chem. 263:13414-13418 (1988). Ends of subclones were sequenced using T3 and T7 primers with internal portions of subclones made accessible to sequencing by introducing deletions or using primers complementary to insert sequences. The mTll sequences reported herein were confirmed by sequencing both strands.

[0052] Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

[0053] The PCR was performed with 0.2 μM of each primer in a 480 thermal cycler (Perkin-Elmer Corp.) with denaturation at 94° C. for 3 min, followed by 35 cycles of 94° C./1 min, 57° C./1 min, 72° C./1.5 min, and final incubation at 72° C./8 min. Final volumes were 100 μl of 10 mM Tris-HCL, pH 8.3, 50 mM KCL, 1.5 mM MgCl₂, 0.01% (w/v) gelatin, 0.2 mM each DNTP, and 2.5 units of Taq polymerase (Perkin-Elmer Corp.).

[0054] Tissue Sections for in situ Hybridization

[0055] Tissue sections mounted on slides for in situ hybridization were kindly provided by G. E. Lyons (University of Wisconsin-Madison). Mouse tissues were fixed and embedded, as in Lyons et al., “The expression of myosin genes in developing skeletal muscle,” J. Cell Biol. 111:1465-1476 (1990). Briefly, tissues were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde in phosphate-buffered saline, dehydrated, and infiltrated with paraffin. Serial sections, 5-7 μm thick, were mounted on gelatinized slides. One to three sections were mounted/slide, deparaffinized in xylene, and rehydrated. Sections were digested with proteinase K, post-fixed, treated with tri-ethanolamine/acetic anhydride, washed, and dehydrated.

[0056] Probes for in Situ Hybridization

[0057] mTll-specific probes corresponding to portions of the 1104 bp mTll 3′-untranslated region were used for in situ hybridization. Since the 3′-untranslated region has no similarity to BMP-1 or mTld sequences, the probes did not cross-hybridize with BMP-1 or mTld RNA.

[0058] To ensure that the probes did not hybridize to other RNA transcripts bearing repeat sequences similar to the long SSR identified in the central portion of the mTll 3′-untranslated region (nucleotides 4148 to 4239), two separate riboprobes, corresponding to 3′-UT sequences upstream or downstream of the SSR were prepared according to the manufacturer's conditions (Stratagene), labeled with ³⁵S-UTP (>1000 Ci/mmol/Amersham Corp.) and combined to strengthen the in situ hybridization signal. Probes were hydrolyzed with alkali to a mean size of 70 bases.

[0059] For 3′-untranslated sequences downstream of the SSR, a 399 bp PCR product (SEQ ID NO:2 nucleotides 4283 to 4681) was prepared using forward primer 5′-CCAGCTTAACCTGTTCACAC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:6) and reverse primer 5′-AACTCTACTTCCACTTCATC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:7). The PCR product was ligated into the cloning site of the pCRII T-A vector (Invitrogen). Uniformly labeled antisense riboprobe was generated by linearizing the template at the HindIII site in the pCRII polylinker and transcribing with RNA polymerase T7. Sense control riboprobe was generated by linearizing at the XhoI site in the pCRII polylinker and transcribing with RNA polymerase SP6.

[0060] For 3′-untranslated sequences upstream of the SSR, a 420 bp PCR product (SEQ ID NO:2, nucleotides 3666 to 4085) was prepared, employing forward primer 5′-TCAGAACAGAAAGGAATGTG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:8) and reverse primer 5′-GACCACTATTCCACATCACC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:9), and was ligated into the cloning site of pCRII T-A. Antisense riboprobe was prepared by linearizing at the XhoI site in the PCRII polylinker and transcribing with RNA polymerase SP6, while sense control riboprobe was prepared by linearizing at the HindIII site in the PCRII polylinker and transcribing with RNA polymerase T7.

[0061] In situ hybridization and Washing Procedures

[0062] Sections were hybridized overnight at 52° C. in 50% deionized formamide, 0.3 M NaCl, 20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.4, 5 mM EDTA, 10 mM NaPO₄, 10% dextran sulfate, 1×Denhardt's solution, 50 μg/ml total yeast RNA, 25 μmol/ml thio-ATP (Boehringer-Mannheim), and 50-75,000 cpm/μl ³⁵S-labeled cRNA probe. Tissue was stringently washed at 65° C. in 50% formamide, 2×SSC, 10 mM dithiothreitol; rinsed in phosphate-buffered saline; and treated with 20 μg/ml RNase A at 37° C. for 30 min. Following washes in 2×SSC and 0.1×SSC for 15 min at 37° C., slides were dehydrated, dipped in Kodak NTB-2 nuclear track emulsion, and exposed for 1 week in light-tight boxes with desiccant at 4° C. Photographic development was in Kodak D-19. Slides were analyzed using light- and dark-field optics of a Zeiss Axiophot microscope.

[0063] Northern and Southern Blot Analyses

[0064] A 1,633 bp EcoRI fragment (SEQ ID NO:2, nucleotides 1113 to 2745) corresponding to the 5′-end of cDNA clone KO 3 (FIG. 1) was purified and used as a probe for Northern blot analyses. This fragment contains sequences corresponding to most of the protease domain; all of the domains CUB1, CUB2 and EGF1; and most of domain CUB3. The 399 bp PCR product described above for use in in situ hybridization experiments was gel purified and used as a probe in Southern blot analyses. Both probes were radiolabeled to a specific activity of 4-6×10⁹ cpm/μg by random priming (Feinberg and Vogelstein, “A technique for radiolabeling DNA restriction endonuclease fragments to high specific activity: Addendum,” Anal. Biochem. 137:266-267 (1984)) and were hybridized to blots in QuickHyb (Stratagene) at 68° C. for 1 h. Northern blots (obtained from Clontech) were washed twice in 2×SSC, 0.1 SDS at 68° C. for 10 min and then twice in 0.1×SSC, 0.1% SDS at 68° C. for 15 min. Southern blots were washed twice in 2×SSC, 0.1% SDS at 68° C. for 10 min and then twice in 0.1×SSC, 0.1% SDS at 68° C. for 20 min.

[0065] Subcloning and Expression of mTll Gene

[0066] The mature active forms of BMP-1, mTld and mTll are all similar in their amino acid sequences. An exception to this is the C-terminus of each protein, where no homology is observed. This uniqueness of C-terminal sequences has been put to use in producing a set of polyclonal antibodies capable of discriminating between the three protein forms. In the case of mouse mTll, the synthetic peptide Ac-CYIRYKSIRYPETMHAKN-OH, which corresponds to the final 17 amino acids of mTll, was linked to the protein carrier Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin, suspended in saline and emulsified by mixing with an equal volume of Freund's adjuvant and injected into three to four subcutaneous dorsal sites in each of two rabbits. Bleeds for sera were at 12 and 16 weeks after immunization and boosts. Unlike BMP-1 and mTld, for which C-terminal amino acid sequences are perfectly conserved between mouse and human, mouse and human mTll C-terminal amino acid sequences are diverged. It is perhaps because of this divergence across species that the peptide for the mouse mTll C-terminus peptide has produced 3-fold higher titers of antibodies in rabbits than have the C-terminus peptides of BMP-1 and mTld. In order to produce antibodies specific for the C-terminus of human MTll, the peptide Ac-CHIRYKSIRYPDTTHTKK-OH will be used. These antibodies have commercial utility in an assay for visualizing the production and localization of mTll protein in cells, tissues, and mammalian organisms, including, but not limited to model systems (e.g., rodents, primates, and the like) as well as humans. In view of the rapid pace at which the understanding of the bone morphogenetic proteins is advancing, the ability to distinguish individual components one from another is important, not merely from a research perspective, but in monitoring the level and distribution of BMP system components in patients having disorders of the BMP system.

[0067] Such disorders could include, for example, in mice and humans, fibrotic conditions. In addition, hereditary developmental abnormalities may be due to defects in the TLL gene.

[0068] Determining the role of mTll in such genetic abnormalities will be enabled by the antibody and nucleic acid probes described herein. The mTll protein is quite clearly important in the BMP system, in that it apparently substitutes well for BMP-1 in mice having null BMP-1 alleles on both chromosomes. Such mice survive the full course of gestation but develop a persistent herniation of the gut in the umbilical region. These mice die soon after birth, presumably due to the loss of the BMP-1/mTld gene. However, they show no gross derangements of pattern formation, of collagen fibril formation, or of development in general. Clearly development of this order or even collagen fibrillogenesis would not be possible without some BMP-1/mTld-like activity. We have found such an activity in mouse embryo fibroblasts from these BMP-1-null mice in the form of C-proteinase activity. Such activity appears to be supplied by mTll and there appear to be no other closely related genes.

1 13 330 base pairs nucleic acid single linear other nucleic acid /desc = “oligonucleotide probe” 1 ACGTCCAGAC CGGAGCGGGT GTGGCCCGAT GGGGTCATCC CGTTTGTGAT TGGAGGGAAT 60 TTCACAGGCA GCCAGAGGGC AGTCTTCCGG CAGGCCATGA GACACTGGGA GAAGCATACC 120 TGTGTCACCT TCTTGGAGCG CACAGATGAG GACAGCTATA TTGTATTCAC CTACCGACCC 180 TGCGGGTGCT GCTCCTACGT GGGTCGCCGA GGTGGGGGCC CCCAGGCCAT CTCCATCGGC 240 AAGAACTGTG ACAAGTTTGG CATCGTGGTC CATGAGCTGG GCCATGTCAT TGGCTTCTGG 300 CACGAGCACA CGCGGCCCGA CCGCGACCGC 330 4771 base pairs nucleic acid double linear DNA (genomic) CDS 611..3652 /product= “murine mTll protein” 2 CACACCCCTT TGCTCTCCGG GCAGTCGGGA GCTTCCCTAG CTTCGGCAGG CTTTTAAGGT 60 CTGGCGGCGT AGAAATGCCT ATCCCCCACC CCCTTCCTCG GTCTCCCCTT TCAGTTCAGA 120 TGTGCTGATG TGCAGACCGG ATTCATCTTC CCCGAGCAGC GGCGGTGGCA GCGGCGGGCG 180 CAGGCGGCTG CAGCTCGCTC TCGGCCGCGG GGTCCTGACA GCGGCGGGGG CGCGGCGCGG 240 GAGCCGGAGC TCCGGTGGCA GCTGAGCCCG CCGTGCGCCT CTCGCCGCGG CCGGTCGTGA 300 TCGCGGGAAG TTCGACCGCT GGAAGGACGA CCTAGACCGA GCCGGGTTGG CTGCGGCTGC 360 CCTGCGCCGA GCTCCTCACC TGCCTTCCGC CCACCCGCGG GCCCCCGGCC AAGTTCCCCA 420 GCATCCGGGG GAGACAGGGA GACATTTGCC CTCTCTAGCG TCCTGAAGAC ATCCGCATGT 480 CTCCGGACAC CTGAACATTC AGGTCTTTCC GAGGAGCTTC CCAGTCGGGA TAAGAACACT 540 GTCCCTAGAG CCCCGCATAT CCACGCGGCC CTCCGGGTCT GGTCCCCTCC TTTTCCTCTA 600 GGGGAGGAGG ATG GGT TTG CAA GCG CTC TCC CCG AGG ATG CTC CTG TGG 649 Met Gly Leu Gln Ala Leu Ser Pro Arg Met Leu Leu Trp 1 5 10 TTG GTG GTC TCG GGT ATT GTT TTC TCC CGG GTG CTG TGG GTC TGC GCT 697 Leu Val Val Ser Gly Ile Val Phe Ser Arg Val Leu Trp Val Cys Ala 15 20 25 GGC CTC GAT TAT GAT TAC ACT TTT GAT GGG AAC GAA GAG GAC AAA ACG 745 Gly Leu Asp Tyr Asp Tyr Thr Phe Asp Gly Asn Glu Glu Asp Lys Thr 30 35 40 45 GAG CCT ATA GAT TAC AAG GAC CCG TGC AAA GCT GCT GTG TTT TGG GGT 793 Glu Pro Ile Asp Tyr Lys Asp Pro Cys Lys Ala Ala Val Phe Trp Gly 50 55 60 GAC ATC GCC TTA GAT GAT GAA GAC TTA AAT ATC TTC CAA ATA GAC AGG 841 Asp Ile Ala Leu Asp Asp Glu Asp Leu Asn Ile Phe Gln Ile Asp Arg 65 70 75 ACA ATT GAC CTG ACC CAG AGC CCC TTT GGA AAA CTT GGA CAT ATT ACA 889 Thr Ile Asp Leu Thr Gln Ser Pro Phe Gly Lys Leu Gly His Ile Thr 80 85 90 GGT GGC TTT GGA GAC CAT GGC ATG CCA AAG AAG CGA GGG GCA CTC TAC 937 Gly Gly Phe Gly Asp His Gly Met Pro Lys Lys Arg Gly Ala Leu Tyr 95 100 105 CAA CTT ATA GAG AGG ATC AGA AGA ATT GGC TCT GGC TTG GAG CAA AAT 985 Gln Leu Ile Glu Arg Ile Arg Arg Ile Gly Ser Gly Leu Glu Gln Asn 110 115 120 125 AAC ACG ATG AAG GGA AAA GCA CCT CCA AAA TTG TCA GAG CAA AGT GAG 1033 Asn Thr Met Lys Gly Lys Ala Pro Pro Lys Leu Ser Glu Gln Ser Glu 130 135 140 AAA AAT CGA GTT CCC AGA GCT GCT ACC TCA AGA ACG GAA AGG ATA TGG 1081 Lys Asn Arg Val Pro Arg Ala Ala Thr Ser Arg Thr Glu Arg Ile Trp 145 150 155 CCT GGG GGT GTC ATT CCT TAT GTC ATA GGA GGA AAC TTT ACT GGC AGC 1129 Pro Gly Gly Val Ile Pro Tyr Val Ile Gly Gly Asn Phe Thr Gly Ser 160 165 170 CAG AGA GCC ATG TTC AAG CAG GCC ATG AGA CAC TGG GAA AAG CAC ACC 1177 Gln Arg Ala Met Phe Lys Gln Ala Met Arg His Trp Glu Lys His Thr 175 180 185 TGT GTG ACG TTC ACT GAG AGA AGT GAT GAA GAA AGT TAT ATT GTG TTC 1225 Cys Val Thr Phe Thr Glu Arg Ser Asp Glu Glu Ser Tyr Ile Val Phe 190 195 200 205 ACC TAC AGG CCT TGT GGA TGC TGC TCC TAT GTT GGT CGG CGG GGA AAT 1273 Thr Tyr Arg Pro Cys Gly Cys Cys Ser Tyr Val Gly Arg Arg Gly Asn 210 215 220 GGC CCT CAG GCC ATC TCT ATT GGC AAG AAC TGT GAC AAG TTT GGA ATT 1321 Gly Pro Gln Ala Ile Ser Ile Gly Lys Asn Cys Asp Lys Phe Gly Ile 225 230 235 GTT GTT CAT GAA CTG GGC CAC GTG ATA GGC TTC TGG CAT GAA CAT ACC 1369 Val Val His Glu Leu Gly His Val Ile Gly Phe Trp His Glu His Thr 240 245 250 CGC CCA GAC CGA GAC AAC CAT GTC ACC ATC ATT AGA GAG AAC ATC CAG 1417 Arg Pro Asp Arg Asp Asn His Val Thr Ile Ile Arg Glu Asn Ile Gln 255 260 265 CCA GGT CAA GAG TAC AAT TTT CTA AAG ATG GAG CCT GGA GAA GTG AAC 1465 Pro Gly Gln Glu Tyr Asn Phe Leu Lys Met Glu Pro Gly Glu Val Asn 270 275 280 285 TCT CTT GGG GAA AGA TAT GAT TTT GAC AGT ATC ATG CAC TAC GCC AGG 1513 Ser Leu Gly Glu Arg Tyr Asp Phe Asp Ser Ile Met His Tyr Ala Arg 290 295 300 AAC ACC TTC TCA AGA GGG ATG TTT TTA GAC ACA ATA CTC CCC TCC CGT 1561 Asn Thr Phe Ser Arg Gly Met Phe Leu Asp Thr Ile Leu Pro Ser Arg 305 310 315 GAT GAT AAT GGC ATT CGT CCT GCA ATT GGT CAA CGG ACC CGG TTA AGC 1609 Asp Asp Asn Gly Ile Arg Pro Ala Ile Gly Gln Arg Thr Arg Leu Ser 320 325 330 AAA GGA GAC ATT GCA CAA GCA AGA AAG CTG TAT CGA TGC CCA GCA TGT 1657 Lys Gly Asp Ile Ala Gln Ala Arg Lys Leu Tyr Arg Cys Pro Ala Cys 335 340 345 GGA GAA ACC CTG CAA GAA TCC AGT GGC AAC CTT TCT TCC CCA GGA TTC 1705 Gly Glu Thr Leu Gln Glu Ser Ser Gly Asn Leu Ser Ser Pro Gly Phe 350 355 360 365 CCA AAT GGC TAC CCT TCC TAC ACA CAC TGC ATC TGG AGA GTG TCT GTG 1753 Pro Asn Gly Tyr Pro Ser Tyr Thr His Cys Ile Trp Arg Val Ser Val 370 375 380 ACC CCG GGA GAA AAG ATT GTC TTG AAT TTT ACC ACA ATG GAC CTT TAC 1801 Thr Pro Gly Glu Lys Ile Val Leu Asn Phe Thr Thr Met Asp Leu Tyr 385 390 395 AAA AGT AGT TTG TGC TGG TAT GAT TAC ATT GAA GTA AGA GAT GGT TAC 1849 Lys Ser Ser Leu Cys Trp Tyr Asp Tyr Ile Glu Val Arg Asp Gly Tyr 400 405 410 TGG AGG AAG TCA CCT CTC CTT GGT AGA TTC TGT GGG GAC AAA GTG GCT 1897 Trp Arg Lys Ser Pro Leu Leu Gly Arg Phe Cys Gly Asp Lys Val Ala 415 420 425 GGA GTT CTT ACA TCT ACG GAC AGC AGA ATG TGG ATT GAG TTT CGT AGC 1945 Gly Val Leu Thr Ser Thr Asp Ser Arg Met Trp Ile Glu Phe Arg Ser 430 435 440 445 AGC AGT AAC TGG GTA GGA AAA GGG TTT GCA GCT GTC TAT GAA GCG ATT 1993 Ser Ser Asn Trp Val Gly Lys Gly Phe Ala Ala Val Tyr Glu Ala Ile 450 455 460 TGT GGA GGG GAG ATA AGG AAA AAC GAA GGG CAG ATT CAG TCT CCC AAT 2041 Cys Gly Gly Glu Ile Arg Lys Asn Glu Gly Gln Ile Gln Ser Pro Asn 465 470 475 TAC CCC GAT GAC TAC CGA CCA ATG AAG GAG TGT GTA TGG AAA ATA ATG 2089 Tyr Pro Asp Asp Tyr Arg Pro Met Lys Glu Cys Val Trp Lys Ile Met 480 485 490 GTG TCC GAG GGC TAC CAT GTT GGA CTG ACC TTT CAG GCC TTT GAG ATC 2137 Val Ser Glu Gly Tyr His Val Gly Leu Thr Phe Gln Ala Phe Glu Ile 495 500 505 GAA AGA CAT GAC AGC TGT GCC TAT GAC CAC CTA GAA GTT CGA GAT GGA 2185 Glu Arg His Asp Ser Cys Ala Tyr Asp His Leu Glu Val Arg Asp Gly 510 515 520 525 GCC AGT GAG AAC AGC CCT TTG ATA GGA CGG TTC TGT GGT TAT GAC AAA 2233 Ala Ser Glu Asn Ser Pro Leu Ile Gly Arg Phe Cys Gly Tyr Asp Lys 530 535 540 CCT GAA GAT ATA AGG TCT ACT TCC AAC ACC CTG TGG ATG AAG TTT GTC 2281 Pro Glu Asp Ile Arg Ser Thr Ser Asn Thr Leu Trp Met Lys Phe Val 545 550 555 TCT GAC GGG ACT GTG AAC AAG GCA GGG TTT GCT GCG AAC TTT TTT AAA 2329 Ser Asp Gly Thr Val Asn Lys Ala Gly Phe Ala Ala Asn Phe Phe Lys 560 565 570 GAG GAA GAT GAG TGT GCC AAA CCT GAC CGA GGA GGC TGT GAA CAG AGG 2377 Glu Glu Asp Glu Cys Ala Lys Pro Asp Arg Gly Gly Cys Glu Gln Arg 575 580 585 TGT CTT AAC ACA CTA GGC AGC TAC CAG TGT GCC TGT GAG CCT GGC TAT 2425 Cys Leu Asn Thr Leu Gly Ser Tyr Gln Cys Ala Cys Glu Pro Gly Tyr 590 595 600 605 GAA CTG GGG CCA GAC AGA AGA AGC TGT GAA GCT GCT TGC GGA GGA CTT 2473 Glu Leu Gly Pro Asp Arg Arg Ser Cys Glu Ala Ala Cys Gly Gly Leu 610 615 620 CTG ACG AAG CTC AAT GGC ACC ATA ACC ACC CCC GGC TGG CCC AAA GAG 2521 Leu Thr Lys Leu Asn Gly Thr Ile Thr Thr Pro Gly Trp Pro Lys Glu 625 630 635 TAC CCT CCA AAC AAA AAC TGT GTG TGG CAA GTG ATC GCG CCA AGC CAG 2569 Tyr Pro Pro Asn Lys Asn Cys Val Trp Gln Val Ile Ala Pro Ser Gln 640 645 650 TAC AGA ATC TCT GTG AAG TTT GAG TTT TTT GAA TTG GAA GGC AAT GAA 2617 Tyr Arg Ile Ser Val Lys Phe Glu Phe Phe Glu Leu Glu Gly Asn Glu 655 660 665 GTT TGC AAA TAC GAT TAC GTG GAG ATC TGG AGC GGC CCT TCC TCT GAG 2665 Val Cys Lys Tyr Asp Tyr Val Glu Ile Trp Ser Gly Pro Ser Ser Glu 670 675 680 685 TCT AAA CTG CAT GGC AAG TTC TGT GGC GCT GAC ATA CCT GAA GTG ATG 2713 Ser Lys Leu His Gly Lys Phe Cys Gly Ala Asp Ile Pro Glu Val Met 690 695 700 ACT TCC CAT TTC AAC AAC ATG AGG ATT GAA TTC AAG TCA GAC AAC ACT 2761 Thr Ser His Phe Asn Asn Met Arg Ile Glu Phe Lys Ser Asp Asn Thr 705 710 715 GTA TCC AAG AAG GGC TTC AAA GCA CAT TTT TTC TCA GAT AAG GAT GAG 2809 Val Ser Lys Lys Gly Phe Lys Ala His Phe Phe Ser Asp Lys Asp Glu 720 725 730 TGT TCA AAG GAT AAT GGT GGC TGT CAG CAT GAG TGT GTC AAC ACG ATG 2857 Cys Ser Lys Asp Asn Gly Gly Cys Gln His Glu Cys Val Asn Thr Met 735 740 745 GGA AGT TAC ACG TGT CAG TGC CGG AAT GGA TTC GTG TTG CAT GAG AAC 2905 Gly Ser Tyr Thr Cys Gln Cys Arg Asn Gly Phe Val Leu His Glu Asn 750 755 760 765 AAG CAT GAT TGC AAG GAA GCC GAG TGT GAA CAG AAG ATA CAC AGC CCA 2953 Lys His Asp Cys Lys Glu Ala Glu Cys Glu Gln Lys Ile His Ser Pro 770 775 780 AGT GGT CTC ATC ACC AGT CCC AAC TGG CCA GAC AAG TAT CCA AGC AGG 3001 Ser Gly Leu Ile Thr Ser Pro Asn Trp Pro Asp Lys Tyr Pro Ser Arg 785 790 795 AAA GAG TGC ACG TGG GTG ATC AGT GCC ATT CCT GGC CAC CGC ATC ACA 3049 Lys Glu Cys Thr Trp Val Ile Ser Ala Ile Pro Gly His Arg Ile Thr 800 805 810 TTA GCC TTC AAT GAG TTT GAG GTT GAA CAA CAT CAA GAA TGT GCT TAT 3097 Leu Ala Phe Asn Glu Phe Glu Val Glu Gln His Gln Glu Cys Ala Tyr 815 820 825 GAT CAC TTG GAA ATT TTT GAT GGA GAA ACG GAG AAG TCA CCA ATA CTT 3145 Asp His Leu Glu Ile Phe Asp Gly Glu Thr Glu Lys Ser Pro Ile Leu 830 835 840 845 GGC CGA CTA TGT GGC AGC AAG ATA CCA GAT CCC CTC ATG GCT ACT GGG 3193 Gly Arg Leu Cys Gly Ser Lys Ile Pro Asp Pro Leu Met Ala Thr Gly 850 855 860 AAT GAA ATG TTT ATT CGG TTT ATT TCT GAT GCC TCT GTT CAA AGA AAA 3241 Asn Glu Met Phe Ile Arg Phe Ile Ser Asp Ala Ser Val Gln Arg Lys 865 870 875 GGC TTT CAA GCT ACA CAT TCC ACA GAG TGT GGT GGT CGA TTG AAA GCA 3289 Gly Phe Gln Ala Thr His Ser Thr Glu Cys Gly Gly Arg Leu Lys Ala 880 885 890 GAG TCA AAG CCT AGA GAC CTG TAC TCC CAT GCT CAG TTT GGT GAT AAT 3337 Glu Ser Lys Pro Arg Asp Leu Tyr Ser His Ala Gln Phe Gly Asp Asn 895 900 905 AAC TAC CCA GGA CAA CTG GAC TGT GAA TGG TTG TTG GTG TCA GAA CGA 3385 Asn Tyr Pro Gly Gln Leu Asp Cys Glu Trp Leu Leu Val Ser Glu Arg 910 915 920 925 GGA TCT CGA CTT GAA TTG TCC TTC CAG ACA TTC GAA GTA GAA GAA GAA 3433 Gly Ser Arg Leu Glu Leu Ser Phe Gln Thr Phe Glu Val Glu Glu Glu 930 935 940 GCT GAC TGT GGC TAT GAC TAT GTT GAA GTC TTT GAT GGT CTC AGT TCA 3481 Ala Asp Cys Gly Tyr Asp Tyr Val Glu Val Phe Asp Gly Leu Ser Ser 945 950 955 AAA GCT GTG GGT CTT GGT AGA TTC TGT GGG TCA GGG CCA CCA GAA GAA 3529 Lys Ala Val Gly Leu Gly Arg Phe Cys Gly Ser Gly Pro Pro Glu Glu 960 965 970 ATC TAT TCA ATT GGA GAT GTG GCT TTG ATT CAT TTC CAC ACA GAT GAC 3577 Ile Tyr Ser Ile Gly Asp Val Ala Leu Ile His Phe His Thr Asp Asp 975 980 985 ACT ATC AAC AAG AAA GGA TTT TAT ATA AGA TAT AAA AGT ATA AGA TAC 3625 Thr Ile Asn Lys Lys Gly Phe Tyr Ile Arg Tyr Lys Ser Ile Arg Tyr 990 995 1000 1005 CCG GAA ACG ATG CAT GCC AAG AAC TAA TGCCGACCCT CCCTCAGAAC 3672 Pro Glu Thr Met His Ala Lys Asn * 1010 AGAAAGGAAT GTGCATATGG AAAGAAGACA TTTTTAAAAT AGACAATATT AATACAATTG 3732 TTTTATATAA TGAATTTGAG CAAAAGAAAC CTGCAAGATT AGAGTTATCT CTGAAGTGAA 3792 AGAGAACTTT CCAGAAAACC TGATTGGCAT TGCAAGGATG TTTGAAAGTC ATGCTTGTTC 3852 AAGGAAGATT AACAGCTTGA AATAGATGCT TCACATTTTG GACAGTTCAT TTAATGAGCT 3912 GTGATTCTCT GGAGTGATTT CTTGACTACT TTTCCAAGAT CTGGGGACGT AGAAATGATG 3972 GGACGGATCA TAGCTTGGAA ACCCACTTCT TGGGTCTTAG CATGTTTGCT TAGACTCTGT 4032 AGGTCAGACA CAGTGTAAAC CAAATTCATG TAAGGTGATG TGGAATAGTG GTCTTTGGAA 4092 GGTGGTTCAT CATTTAAATG TAGGTTTGTG CTTGTGTGTA TGTTCACATA TGCAAGTGTG 4152 TGTGTGTGTG TGTGTGTGTG TGTGTGTGTG TGTGTGCGTG TGTGTGTGTG TGCGTGTGTG 4212 TGTGTGTGCA TGTGTGTGCA TGTGTGTTTG GAAACTGGAA TATTTCATCT TCATTATTTT 4272 CAAATGCAGG CCAGCTTAAC CTGTTCACAC AAATGATTTT GTGACCACTT CATTGTATCT 4332 GTATCTTGAG AAGTTTGAAA TATCTATAGT GTCTACAATG CAGTTAATCC CTAGATATCG 4392 GATAATACCC AGTTCACTAG TAAACTCATT TCTCTCTGGG GAAGTGCTGA ATAGTCTCCA 4452 AATTCAAGAA ACTCACCATG TCTTATAAAC CTTTAAGATA AAATTCCAAC GAGGTGTGTG 4512 CAGCCATCTT CCAAATGACT GCCTGGATGT TTCTTAGTCC AGTTACTACT GCTGCTGCTA 4572 TTGGTCTTTC TTTTATTGTT AATGTGTTGA TATGTTGTTA TTATTATGGT TATTATTATT 4632 GATGTTGTTA CTATATTTAA AAATGATGAG ATGAAGTGGA AGTAGAGTTT GGGAGAAATG 4692 AAATCTCTCT TTTTTGTTCT CTTCTTGAAA TTCAGTTTCA AAAAATACAA TATTGGGTGG 4752 CAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAA 4771 1013 amino acids amino acid linear protein 3 Met Gly Leu Gln Ala Leu Ser Pro Arg Met Leu Leu Trp Leu Val Val 1 5 10 15 Ser Gly Ile Val Phe Ser Arg Val Leu Trp Val Cys Ala Gly Leu Asp 20 25 30 Tyr Asp Tyr Thr Phe Asp Gly Asn Glu Glu Asp Lys Thr Glu Pro Ile 35 40 45 Asp Tyr Lys Asp Pro Cys Lys Ala Ala Val Phe Trp Gly Asp Ile Ala 50 55 60 Leu Asp Asp Glu Asp Leu Asn Ile Phe Gln Ile Asp Arg Thr Ile Asp 65 70 75 80 Leu Thr Gln Ser Pro Phe Gly Lys Leu Gly His Ile Thr Gly Gly Phe 85 90 95 Gly Asp His Gly Met Pro Lys Lys Arg Gly Ala Leu Tyr Gln Leu Ile 100 105 110 Glu Arg Ile Arg Arg Ile Gly Ser Gly Leu Glu Gln Asn Asn Thr Met 115 120 125 Lys Gly Lys Ala Pro Pro Lys Leu Ser Glu Gln Ser Glu Lys Asn Arg 130 135 140 Val Pro Arg Ala Ala Thr Ser Arg Thr Glu Arg Ile Trp Pro Gly Gly 145 150 155 160 Val Ile Pro Tyr Val Ile Gly Gly Asn Phe Thr Gly Ser Gln Arg Ala 165 170 175 Met Phe Lys Gln Ala Met Arg His Trp Glu Lys His Thr Cys Val Thr 180 185 190 Phe Thr Glu Arg Ser Asp Glu Glu Ser Tyr Ile Val Phe Thr Tyr Arg 195 200 205 Pro Cys Gly Cys Cys Ser Tyr Val Gly Arg Arg Gly Asn Gly Pro Gln 210 215 220 Ala Ile Ser Ile Gly Lys Asn Cys Asp Lys Phe Gly Ile Val Val His 225 230 235 240 Glu Leu Gly His Val Ile Gly Phe Trp His Glu His Thr Arg Pro Asp 245 250 255 Arg Asp Asn His Val Thr Ile Ile Arg Glu Asn Ile Gln Pro Gly Gln 260 265 270 Glu Tyr Asn Phe Leu Lys Met Glu Pro Gly Glu Val Asn Ser Leu Gly 275 280 285 Glu Arg Tyr Asp Phe Asp Ser Ile Met His Tyr Ala Arg Asn Thr Phe 290 295 300 Ser Arg Gly Met Phe Leu Asp Thr Ile Leu Pro Ser Arg Asp Asp Asn 305 310 315 320 Gly Ile Arg Pro Ala Ile Gly Gln Arg Thr Arg Leu Ser Lys Gly Asp 325 330 335 Ile Ala Gln Ala Arg Lys Leu Tyr Arg Cys Pro Ala Cys Gly Glu Thr 340 345 350 Leu Gln Glu Ser Ser Gly Asn Leu Ser Ser Pro Gly Phe Pro Asn Gly 355 360 365 Tyr Pro Ser Tyr Thr His Cys Ile Trp Arg Val Ser Val Thr Pro Gly 370 375 380 Glu Lys Ile Val Leu Asn Phe Thr Thr Met Asp Leu Tyr Lys Ser Ser 385 390 395 400 Leu Cys Trp Tyr Asp Tyr Ile Glu Val Arg Asp Gly Tyr Trp Arg Lys 405 410 415 Ser Pro Leu Leu Gly Arg Phe Cys Gly Asp Lys Val Ala Gly Val Leu 420 425 430 Thr Ser Thr Asp Ser Arg Met Trp Ile Glu Phe Arg Ser Ser Ser Asn 435 440 445 Trp Val Gly Lys Gly Phe Ala Ala Val Tyr Glu Ala Ile Cys Gly Gly 450 455 460 Glu Ile Arg Lys Asn Glu Gly Gln Ile Gln Ser Pro Asn Tyr Pro Asp 465 470 475 480 Asp Tyr Arg Pro Met Lys Glu Cys Val Trp Lys Ile Met Val Ser Glu 485 490 495 Gly Tyr His Val Gly Leu Thr Phe Gln Ala Phe Glu Ile Glu Arg His 500 505 510 Asp Ser Cys Ala Tyr Asp His Leu Glu Val Arg Asp Gly Ala Ser Glu 515 520 525 Asn Ser Pro Leu Ile Gly Arg Phe Cys Gly Tyr Asp Lys Pro Glu Asp 530 535 540 Ile Arg Ser Thr Ser Asn Thr Leu Trp Met Lys Phe Val Ser Asp Gly 545 550 555 560 Thr Val Asn Lys Ala Gly Phe Ala Ala Asn Phe Phe Lys Glu Glu Asp 565 570 575 Glu Cys Ala Lys Pro Asp Arg Gly Gly Cys Glu Gln Arg Cys Leu Asn 580 585 590 Thr Leu Gly Ser Tyr Gln Cys Ala Cys Glu Pro Gly Tyr Glu Leu Gly 595 600 605 Pro Asp Arg Arg Ser Cys Glu Ala Ala Cys Gly Gly Leu Leu Thr Lys 610 615 620 Leu Asn Gly Thr Ile Thr Thr Pro Gly Trp Pro Lys Glu Tyr Pro Pro 625 630 635 640 Asn Lys Asn Cys Val Trp Gln Val Ile Ala Pro Ser Gln Tyr Arg Ile 645 650 655 Ser Val Lys Phe Glu Phe Phe Glu Leu Glu Gly Asn Glu Val Cys Lys 660 665 670 Tyr Asp Tyr Val Glu Ile Trp Ser Gly Pro Ser Ser Glu Ser Lys Leu 675 680 685 His Gly Lys Phe Cys Gly Ala Asp Ile Pro Glu Val Met Thr Ser His 690 695 700 Phe Asn Asn Met Arg Ile Glu Phe Lys Ser Asp Asn Thr Val Ser Lys 705 710 715 720 Lys Gly Phe Lys Ala His Phe Phe Ser Asp Lys Asp Glu Cys Ser Lys 725 730 735 Asp Asn Gly Gly Cys Gln His Glu Cys Val Asn Thr Met Gly Ser Tyr 740 745 750 Thr Cys Gln Cys Arg Asn Gly Phe Val Leu His Glu Asn Lys His Asp 755 760 765 Cys Lys Glu Ala Glu Cys Glu Gln Lys Ile His Ser Pro Ser Gly Leu 770 775 780 Ile Thr Ser Pro Asn Trp Pro Asp Lys Tyr Pro Ser Arg Lys Glu Cys 785 790 795 800 Thr Trp Val Ile Ser Ala Ile Pro Gly His Arg Ile Thr Leu Ala Phe 805 810 815 Asn Glu Phe Glu Val Glu Gln His Gln Glu Cys Ala Tyr Asp His Leu 820 825 830 Glu Ile Phe Asp Gly Glu Thr Glu Lys Ser Pro Ile Leu Gly Arg Leu 835 840 845 Cys Gly Ser Lys Ile Pro Asp Pro Leu Met Ala Thr Gly Asn Glu Met 850 855 860 Phe Ile Arg Phe Ile Ser Asp Ala Ser Val Gln Arg Lys Gly Phe Gln 865 870 875 880 Ala Thr His Ser Thr Glu Cys Gly Gly Arg Leu Lys Ala Glu Ser Lys 885 890 895 Pro Arg Asp Leu Tyr Ser His Ala Gln Phe Gly Asp Asn Asn Tyr Pro 900 905 910 Gly Gln Leu Asp Cys Glu Trp Leu Leu Val Ser Glu Arg Gly Ser Arg 915 920 925 Leu Glu Leu Ser Phe Gln Thr Phe Glu Val Glu Glu Glu Ala Asp Cys 930 935 940 Gly Tyr Asp Tyr Val Glu Val Phe Asp Gly Leu Ser Ser Lys Ala Val 945 950 955 960 Gly Leu Gly Arg Phe Cys Gly Ser Gly Pro Pro Glu Glu Ile Tyr Ser 965 970 975 Ile Gly Asp Val Ala Leu Ile His Phe His Thr Asp Asp Thr Ile Asn 980 985 990 Lys Lys Gly Phe Tyr Ile Arg Tyr Lys Ser Ile Arg Tyr Pro Glu Thr 995 1000 1005 Met His Ala Lys Asn 1010 3919 base pairs nucleic acid double linear DNA (genomic) Homo sapiens CDS 648..3689 /product= “human mTll protein” 4 CTCACACTTT TGCTCTCTTG CAGTCAGTTG CTTTGCTGGC TTCTGCAGGC TTTTAAGGTC 60 TCGCGGCGTA GAAATGCCTG GCCCCCACCC CCTTCCTCGG TCTCCCCTTT CAATTCAGAT 120 GTGCTGATGT GCAGACCGGA TTCATCTTCT CGGAGCTGCG GCGGCGGCTT TGGGCTCAGG 180 CGGCGGCGGC TCGCGCTCGG CCGCGGAGTC CTGGCAGCAG CGGGGACGCG GCGCGGGAGT 240 CCGAGCTCTG GTGGCAGCTG AGCCCGCGGG GCGCCGCTCG CCGAGCCGCG GCCGCGGGAA 300 GTTCGGCAGC CAGAAGGACG ACCTGGCAGG CTGCGAGCGC CAGCGCCGCC AGAGCCGAGT 360 TTGCCTGCGC CCTCCCCGCC TCCGAGTGCA GAGTTCCTTA CCTGCCCTCC GCCCACCCGT 420 GGGCCCCTAG CCAACTTCTC CCTGCGACTG GGGGTAACAG GCAGTGCTTG CCCTCTCTAC 480 TGTCCCGGCG GCATCCACAT GTTTCCGGAC ACCTGAGCAC CCCGGTCCCG CCGAGGAGCC 540 TCCGGGTGGG GAGAAGAGCA CCGGTGCCCC TAGCCCCGCA CATCAGCGCG GACCGCGGCT 600 GCCTAACCTC TGGGTCCCGT CCCCTCCTTT TCCTCCGGGG GAGGAGG ATG GGG TTG 656 Met Gly Leu 1015 GGA ACG CTT TCC CCG AGG ATG CTC GTG TGG CTG GTG GCC TCG GGG ATT 704 Gly Thr Leu Ser Pro Arg Met Leu Val Trp Leu Val Ala Ser Gly Ile 1020 1025 1030 GTT TTC TAC GGG GAG CTA TGG GTC TGC GCT GGC CTC GAT TAT GAT TAC 752 Val Phe Tyr Gly Glu Leu Trp Val Cys Ala Gly Leu Asp Tyr Asp Tyr 1035 1040 1045 ACT TTT GAT GGG AAC GAA GAG GAT AAA ACA GAG ACT ATA GAT TAC AAG 800 Thr Phe Asp Gly Asn Glu Glu Asp Lys Thr Glu Thr Ile Asp Tyr Lys 1050 1055 1060 1065 GAC CCG TGT AAA GCC GCT GTA TTT TGG GGC GAT ATT GCC TTA GAT GAT 848 Asp Pro Cys Lys Ala Ala Val Phe Trp Gly Asp Ile Ala Leu Asp Asp 1070 1075 1080 GAA GAC TTA AAT ATC TTT CAA ATA GAT AGG ACA ATT GAC CTT ACG CAG 896 Glu Asp Leu Asn Ile Phe Gln Ile Asp Arg Thr Ile Asp Leu Thr Gln 1085 1090 1095 AAC CCC TTT GGA AAC CTT GGA CAT ACC ACA GGT GGA CTT GGA GAC CAT 944 Asn Pro Phe Gly Asn Leu Gly His Thr Thr Gly Gly Leu Gly Asp His 1100 1105 1110 GCT ATG TCA AAG AAG CGA GGG GCC CTC TAC CAA CTT ATA GAC AGG ATA 992 Ala Met Ser Lys Lys Arg Gly Ala Leu Tyr Gln Leu Ile Asp Arg Ile 1115 1120 1125 AGA AGA ATT GGC TTT GGC TTG GAG CAA AAC AAC ACA GTT AAG GGA AAA 1040 Arg Arg Ile Gly Phe Gly Leu Glu Gln Asn Asn Thr Val Lys Gly Lys 1130 1135 1140 1145 GTA CCT CTA CAA TTC TCA GGG CAA AAT GAG AAA AAT CGA GTT CCC AGA 1088 Val Pro Leu Gln Phe Ser Gly Gln Asn Glu Lys Asn Arg Val Pro Arg 1150 1155 1160 GCC GCT ACA TCA AGA ACG GAA AGA ATA TGG CCT GGA GGC GTT ATT CCT 1136 Ala Ala Thr Ser Arg Thr Glu Arg Ile Trp Pro Gly Gly Val Ile Pro 1165 1170 1175 TAT GTT ATA GGA GGA AAC TTC ACT GGC AGC CAG AGA GCC ATG TTC AAG 1184 Tyr Val Ile Gly Gly Asn Phe Thr Gly Ser Gln Arg Ala Met Phe Lys 1180 1185 1190 CAG GCC ATG AGG CAC TGG GAA AAG CAC ACA TGT GTG ACT TTC ATA GAA 1232 Gln Ala Met Arg His Trp Glu Lys His Thr Cys Val Thr Phe Ile Glu 1195 1200 1205 AGA AGT GAT GAA GAG AGT TAC ATT GTA TTC ACC TAT AGG CCT TGT GGA 1280 Arg Ser Asp Glu Glu Ser Tyr Ile Val Phe Thr Tyr Arg Pro Cys Gly 1210 1215 1220 1225 TGC TGC TCC TAT GTA GGT CGG CGA GGA AAT GGA CCT CAG GCA ATC TCT 1328 Cys Cys Ser Tyr Val Gly Arg Arg Gly Asn Gly Pro Gln Ala Ile Ser 1230 1235 1240 ATC GGC AAG AAC TGT GAT AAA TTT GGG ATT GTT GTT CAT GAA TTG GGT 1376 Ile Gly Lys Asn Cys Asp Lys Phe Gly Ile Val Val His Glu Leu Gly 1245 1250 1255 CAT GTG ATA GGC TTT TGG CAT GAA CAC ACA AGA CCA GAT CGA GAT AAC 1424 His Val Ile Gly Phe Trp His Glu His Thr Arg Pro Asp Arg Asp Asn 1260 1265 1270 CAC GTA ACT ATC ATA AGA GAA AAC ATC CAG CCA GGT CAA GAG TAC AAT 1472 His Val Thr Ile Ile Arg Glu Asn Ile Gln Pro Gly Gln Glu Tyr Asn 1275 1280 1285 TTT CTG AAG ATG GAG CCT GGA GAA GTA AAC TCA CTT GGA GAA AGA TAT 1520 Phe Leu Lys Met Glu Pro Gly Glu Val Asn Ser Leu Gly Glu Arg Tyr 1290 1295 1300 1305 GAT TTC GAC AGT ATC ATG CAC TAT GCC AGG AAC ACC TTC TCA AGG GGG 1568 Asp Phe Asp Ser Ile Met His Tyr Ala Arg Asn Thr Phe Ser Arg Gly 1310 1315 1320 ATG TTT CTG GAT ACC ATT CTC CCC TCC CGT GAT GAT AAT GGC ATA CGT 1616 Met Phe Leu Asp Thr Ile Leu Pro Ser Arg Asp Asp Asn Gly Ile Arg 1325 1330 1335 CCT GCA ATT GGT CAG CGA ACC CGT CTA AGC AAA GGA GAT ATC GCA CAG 1664 Pro Ala Ile Gly Gln Arg Thr Arg Leu Ser Lys Gly Asp Ile Ala Gln 1340 1345 1350 GCA AGA AAG CTG TAT AGA TGT CCA GCA TGT GGA GAA ACT CTA CAA GAA 1712 Ala Arg Lys Leu Tyr Arg Cys Pro Ala Cys Gly Glu Thr Leu Gln Glu 1355 1360 1365 TCC AAT GGC AAC CTT TCC TCT CCA GGA TTT CCC AAT GGC TAC CCT TCT 1760 Ser Asn Gly Asn Leu Ser Ser Pro Gly Phe Pro Asn Gly Tyr Pro Ser 1370 1375 1380 1385 TAC ACA CAC TGC ATC TGG AGA GTT TCT GTG ACC CCA GGG GAG AAG ATT 1808 Tyr Thr His Cys Ile Trp Arg Val Ser Val Thr Pro Gly Glu Lys Ile 1390 1395 1400 GTT TTA AAT TTT ACA ACG ATG GAT CTA TAC AAG AGT AGT TTG TGC TGG 1856 Val Leu Asn Phe Thr Thr Met Asp Leu Tyr Lys Ser Ser Leu Cys Trp 1405 1410 1415 TAT GAC TAT ATT GAA GTA AGA GAC GGG TAC TGG AGA AAA TCA CCT CTC 1904 Tyr Asp Tyr Ile Glu Val Arg Asp Gly Tyr Trp Arg Lys Ser Pro Leu 1420 1425 1430 CTT GGT AGA TTC TGT GGG GAC AAA TTG CCT GAA GTT CTT ACT TCT ACA 1952 Leu Gly Arg Phe Cys Gly Asp Lys Leu Pro Glu Val Leu Thr Ser Thr 1435 1440 1445 GAC AGC AGA ATG TGG ATT GAG TTT CGT AGC AGC AGT AAT TGG GTA GGA 2000 Asp Ser Arg Met Trp Ile Glu Phe Arg Ser Ser Ser Asn Trp Val Gly 1450 1455 1460 1465 AAA GGC TTT GCA GCT GTC TAT GAA GCG ATC TGT GGA GGT GAG ATA CGT 2048 Lys Gly Phe Ala Ala Val Tyr Glu Ala Ile Cys Gly Gly Glu Ile Arg 1470 1475 1480 AAA AAT GAA GGA CAG ATT CAG TCT CCC AAT TAT CCT GAT GAC TAT CGC 2096 Lys Asn Glu Gly Gln Ile Gln Ser Pro Asn Tyr Pro Asp Asp Tyr Arg 1485 1490 1495 CCG ATG AAA GAA TGT GTG TGG AAA ATA ACA GTG TCT GAG AGC TAC CAC 2144 Pro Met Lys Glu Cys Val Trp Lys Ile Thr Val Ser Glu Ser Tyr His 1500 1505 1510 GTC GGG CTG ACC TTT CAG TCC TTT GAG ATT GAA AGA CAT GAC AAT TGT 2192 Val Gly Leu Thr Phe Gln Ser Phe Glu Ile Glu Arg His Asp Asn Cys 1515 1520 1525 GCT TAT GAC TAC CTG GAA GTT AGA GAT GGA ACC AGT GAA AAT AGC CCT 2240 Ala Tyr Asp Tyr Leu Glu Val Arg Asp Gly Thr Ser Glu Asn Ser Pro 1530 1535 1540 1545 TTG ATA GGG CGT TTC TGT GGT TAT GAC AAA CCT GAA GAC ATA AGA TCT 2288 Leu Ile Gly Arg Phe Cys Gly Tyr Asp Lys Pro Glu Asp Ile Arg Ser 1550 1555 1560 ACC TCC AAT ACT TTG TGG ATG AAG TTT GTT TCT GAC GGA ACT GTG AAC 2336 Thr Ser Asn Thr Leu Trp Met Lys Phe Val Ser Asp Gly Thr Val Asn 1565 1570 1575 AAA GCA GGG TTT GCT GCT AAC TTT TTT AAA GAG GAA GAT GAG TGT GCC 2384 Lys Ala Gly Phe Ala Ala Asn Phe Phe Lys Glu Glu Asp Glu Cys Ala 1580 1585 1590 AAA CCT GAC CGT GGA GGC TGT GAG CAG CGA TGT CTG AAC ACT CTG GGC 2432 Lys Pro Asp Arg Gly Gly Cys Glu Gln Arg Cys Leu Asn Thr Leu Gly 1595 1600 1605 AGT TAC CAG TGT GCC TGT GAG CCT GGC TAT GAG CTG GGC CCA GAC AGA 2480 Ser Tyr Gln Cys Ala Cys Glu Pro Gly Tyr Glu Leu Gly Pro Asp Arg 1610 1615 1620 1625 AGG AGC TGT GAA GCT GCT TGT GGT GGA CTT CTT ACC AAA CTT AAC GGC 2528 Arg Ser Cys Glu Ala Ala Cys Gly Gly Leu Leu Thr Lys Leu Asn Gly 1630 1635 1640 ACC ATA ACC ACC CCT GGC TGG CCC AAG GAG TAC CCT CCT AAT AAG AAC 2576 Thr Ile Thr Thr Pro Gly Trp Pro Lys Glu Tyr Pro Pro Asn Lys Asn 1645 1650 1655 TGT GTG TGG CAA GTG GTT GCA CCA ACC CAG TAC AGA ATT TCT GTG AAG 2624 Cys Val Trp Gln Val Val Ala Pro Thr Gln Tyr Arg Ile Ser Val Lys 1660 1665 1670 TTT GAG TTT TTT GAA TTG GAA GGC AAT GAA GTT TGC AAA TAT GAT TAT 2672 Phe Glu Phe Phe Glu Leu Glu Gly Asn Glu Val Cys Lys Tyr Asp Tyr 1675 1680 1685 GTG GAG ATC TGG AGT GGT CTT TCC TCT GAG TCT AAA CTG CAT GGC AAA 2720 Val Glu Ile Trp Ser Gly Leu Ser Ser Glu Ser Lys Leu His Gly Lys 1690 1695 1700 1705 TTC TGT GGC GCT GAA GTG CCT GAA GTG ATC ACA TCC CAG TTC AAC AAT 2768 Phe Cys Gly Ala Glu Val Pro Glu Val Ile Thr Ser Gln Phe Asn Asn 1710 1715 1720 ATG AGA ATT GAA TTC AAA TCT GAC AAT ACT GTA TCC AAG AAG GGC TTC 2816 Met Arg Ile Glu Phe Lys Ser Asp Asn Thr Val Ser Lys Lys Gly Phe 1725 1730 1735 AAA GCA CAT TTT TTC TCA GAC AAA GAT GAA TGC TCT AAG GAT AAT GGT 2864 Lys Ala His Phe Phe Ser Asp Lys Asp Glu Cys Ser Lys Asp Asn Gly 1740 1745 1750 GGA TGT CAG CAC GAA TGT GTC AAC ACG ATG GGG AGC TAC ATG TGT CAA 2912 Gly Cys Gln His Glu Cys Val Asn Thr Met Gly Ser Tyr Met Cys Gln 1755 1760 1765 TGC CGT AAT GGA TTT GTG CTA CAT GAC AAT AAA CAT GAT TGC AAG GAA 2960 Cys Arg Asn Gly Phe Val Leu His Asp Asn Lys His Asp Cys Lys Glu 1770 1775 1780 1785 GCT GAG TGT GAA CAG AAG ATC CAC AGT CCA AGT GGC CTC ATC ACC AGT 3008 Ala Glu Cys Glu Gln Lys Ile His Ser Pro Ser Gly Leu Ile Thr Ser 1790 1795 1800 CCC AAC TGG CCA GAC AAG TAC CCA AGC AGG AAA GAA TGC ACT TGG GAA 3056 Pro Asn Trp Pro Asp Lys Tyr Pro Ser Arg Lys Glu Cys Thr Trp Glu 1805 1810 1815 ATC AGC GCC ACT CCC GGC CAC CGA ATC AAA TTA GCC TTT AGT GAA TTT 3104 Ile Ser Ala Thr Pro Gly His Arg Ile Lys Leu Ala Phe Ser Glu Phe 1820 1825 1830 GAG ATT GAG CAG CAT CAA GAA TGT GCT TAT GAC CAC TTA GAA GTA TTT 3152 Glu Ile Glu Gln His Gln Glu Cys Ala Tyr Asp His Leu Glu Val Phe 1835 1840 1845 GAT GGA GAA ACA GAA AAG TCA CCG ATT CTT GGA CGA CTA TGT GGC AAC 3200 Asp Gly Glu Thr Glu Lys Ser Pro Ile Leu Gly Arg Leu Cys Gly Asn 1850 1855 1860 1865 AAG ATA CCA GAT CCC CTT GTG GCT ACT GGA AAT AAA ATG TTT GTT CGG 3248 Lys Ile Pro Asp Pro Leu Val Ala Thr Gly Asn Lys Met Phe Val Arg 1870 1875 1880 TTT GTT TCT GAT GCA TCT GTT CAA AGA AAA GGC TTT CAA GCC ACA CAT 3296 Phe Val Ser Asp Ala Ser Val Gln Arg Lys Gly Phe Gln Ala Thr His 1885 1890 1895 TCT ACA GAG TGT GGC GGA CGA TTG AAA GCA GAA TCA AAA CCA AGA GAT 3344 Ser Thr Glu Cys Gly Gly Arg Leu Lys Ala Glu Ser Lys Pro Arg Asp 1900 1905 1910 CTG TAC TCA CAT GCT CAG TTT GGT GAT AAC AAC TAC CCA GGA CAG GTT 3392 Leu Tyr Ser His Ala Gln Phe Gly Asp Asn Asn Tyr Pro Gly Gln Val 1915 1920 1925 GAC TGT GAA TGG CTA TTA GTA TCA GAA CGG GGC TCT CGA CTT GAA TTA 3440 Asp Cys Glu Trp Leu Leu Val Ser Glu Arg Gly Ser Arg Leu Glu Leu 1930 1935 1940 1945 TCC TTC CAG ACA TTT GAA GTG GAG GAA GAA GCA GAC TGT GGC TAT GAC 3488 Ser Phe Gln Thr Phe Glu Val Glu Glu Glu Ala Asp Cys Gly Tyr Asp 1950 1955 1960 TAT GTG GAG CTC TTT GAT GGT CTT GAT TCA ACA GCT GTG GGG CTT GGT 3536 Tyr Val Glu Leu Phe Asp Gly Leu Asp Ser Thr Ala Val Gly Leu Gly 1965 1970 1975 CGA TTC TGT GGA TCC GGG CCA CCA GAA GAG ATT TAT TCA ATT GGA GAT 3584 Arg Phe Cys Gly Ser Gly Pro Pro Glu Glu Ile Tyr Ser Ile Gly Asp 1980 1985 1990 TCA GTT TTA ATT CAT TTC CAC ACT GAT GAC ACA ATC AAC AAG AAG GGA 3632 Ser Val Leu Ile His Phe His Thr Asp Asp Thr Ile Asn Lys Lys Gly 1995 2000 2005 TTT CAT ATA AGA TAC AAA AGC ATA AGA TAT CCA GAT ACC ACA CAT ACC 3680 Phe His Ile Arg Tyr Lys Ser Ile Arg Tyr Pro Asp Thr Thr His Thr 2010 2015 2020 2025 AAA AAA TAA CACCAAAACC TCTGTCAGAA CACAAAGGAA TGTGCATAAT 3729 Lys Lys * GGAGAGAAGA CATATTTTTT TTAAAACTGA AGATATTGGC ACAAATGTTT TATACAAAGA 3789 GTTTGAACAA AAAATCCCTG TAAGACCAGA ATTATCTTTG TACTAAAAGA GAAGTTTCCA 3849 GCAAAACCCT CATCAGCATT ACAAGGATAT TTGAACTCCA TGCTTGATGG TATTAATAAA 3909 GCTGGTGAAA 3919 1013 amino acids amino acid linear protein 5 Met Gly Leu Gly Thr Leu Ser Pro Arg Met Leu Val Trp Leu Val Ala 1 5 10 15 Ser Gly Ile Val Phe Tyr Gly Glu Leu Trp Val Cys Ala Gly Leu Asp 20 25 30 Tyr Asp Tyr Thr Phe Asp Gly Asn Glu Glu Asp Lys Thr Glu Thr Ile 35 40 45 Asp Tyr Lys Asp Pro Cys Lys Ala Ala Val Phe Trp Gly Asp Ile Ala 50 55 60 Leu Asp Asp Glu Asp Leu Asn Ile Phe Gln Ile Asp Arg Thr Ile Asp 65 70 75 80 Leu Thr Gln Asn Pro Phe Gly Asn Leu Gly His Thr Thr Gly Gly Leu 85 90 95 Gly Asp His Ala Met Ser Lys Lys Arg Gly Ala Leu Tyr Gln Leu Ile 100 105 110 Asp Arg Ile Arg Arg Ile Gly Phe Gly Leu Glu Gln Asn Asn Thr Val 115 120 125 Lys Gly Lys Val Pro Leu Gln Phe Ser Gly Gln Asn Glu Lys Asn Arg 130 135 140 Val Pro Arg Ala Ala Thr Ser Arg Thr Glu Arg Ile Trp Pro Gly Gly 145 150 155 160 Val Ile Pro Tyr Val Ile Gly Gly Asn Phe Thr Gly Ser Gln Arg Ala 165 170 175 Met Phe Lys Gln Ala Met Arg His Trp Glu Lys His Thr Cys Val Thr 180 185 190 Phe Ile Glu Arg Ser Asp Glu Glu Ser Tyr Ile Val Phe Thr Tyr Arg 195 200 205 Pro Cys Gly Cys Cys Ser Tyr Val Gly Arg Arg Gly Asn Gly Pro Gln 210 215 220 Ala Ile Ser Ile Gly Lys Asn Cys Asp Lys Phe Gly Ile Val Val His 225 230 235 240 Glu Leu Gly His Val Ile Gly Phe Trp His Glu His Thr Arg Pro Asp 245 250 255 Arg Asp Asn His Val Thr Ile Ile Arg Glu Asn Ile Gln Pro Gly Gln 260 265 270 Glu Tyr Asn Phe Leu Lys Met Glu Pro Gly Glu Val Asn Ser Leu Gly 275 280 285 Glu Arg Tyr Asp Phe Asp Ser Ile Met His Tyr Ala Arg Asn Thr Phe 290 295 300 Ser Arg Gly Met Phe Leu Asp Thr Ile Leu Pro Ser Arg Asp Asp Asn 305 310 315 320 Gly Ile Arg Pro Ala Ile Gly Gln Arg Thr Arg Leu Ser Lys Gly Asp 325 330 335 Ile Ala Gln Ala Arg Lys Leu Tyr Arg Cys Pro Ala Cys Gly Glu Thr 340 345 350 Leu Gln Glu Ser Asn Gly Asn Leu Ser Ser Pro Gly Phe Pro Asn Gly 355 360 365 Tyr Pro Ser Tyr Thr His Cys Ile Trp Arg Val Ser Val Thr Pro Gly 370 375 380 Glu Lys Ile Val Leu Asn Phe Thr Thr Met Asp Leu Tyr Lys Ser Ser 385 390 395 400 Leu Cys Trp Tyr Asp Tyr Ile Glu Val Arg Asp Gly Tyr Trp Arg Lys 405 410 415 Ser Pro Leu Leu Gly Arg Phe Cys Gly Asp Lys Leu Pro Glu Val Leu 420 425 430 Thr Ser Thr Asp Ser Arg Met Trp Ile Glu Phe Arg Ser Ser Ser Asn 435 440 445 Trp Val Gly Lys Gly Phe Ala Ala Val Tyr Glu Ala Ile Cys Gly Gly 450 455 460 Glu Ile Arg Lys Asn Glu Gly Gln Ile Gln Ser Pro Asn Tyr Pro Asp 465 470 475 480 Asp Tyr Arg Pro Met Lys Glu Cys Val Trp Lys Ile Thr Val Ser Glu 485 490 495 Ser Tyr His Val Gly Leu Thr Phe Gln Ser Phe Glu Ile Glu Arg His 500 505 510 Asp Asn Cys Ala Tyr Asp Tyr Leu Glu Val Arg Asp Gly Thr Ser Glu 515 520 525 Asn Ser Pro Leu Ile Gly Arg Phe Cys Gly Tyr Asp Lys Pro Glu Asp 530 535 540 Ile Arg Ser Thr Ser Asn Thr Leu Trp Met Lys Phe Val Ser Asp Gly 545 550 555 560 Thr Val Asn Lys Ala Gly Phe Ala Ala Asn Phe Phe Lys Glu Glu Asp 565 570 575 Glu Cys Ala Lys Pro Asp Arg Gly Gly Cys Glu Gln Arg Cys Leu Asn 580 585 590 Thr Leu Gly Ser Tyr Gln Cys Ala Cys Glu Pro Gly Tyr Glu Leu Gly 595 600 605 Pro Asp Arg Arg Ser Cys Glu Ala Ala Cys Gly Gly Leu Leu Thr Lys 610 615 620 Leu Asn Gly Thr Ile Thr Thr Pro Gly Trp Pro Lys Glu Tyr Pro Pro 625 630 635 640 Asn Lys Asn Cys Val Trp Gln Val Val Ala Pro Thr Gln Tyr Arg Ile 645 650 655 Ser Val Lys Phe Glu Phe Phe Glu Leu Glu Gly Asn Glu Val Cys Lys 660 665 670 Tyr Asp Tyr Val Glu Ile Trp Ser Gly Leu Ser Ser Glu Ser Lys Leu 675 680 685 His Gly Lys Phe Cys Gly Ala Glu Val Pro Glu Val Ile Thr Ser Gln 690 695 700 Phe Asn Asn Met Arg Ile Glu Phe Lys Ser Asp Asn Thr Val Ser Lys 705 710 715 720 Lys Gly Phe Lys Ala His Phe Phe Ser Asp Lys Asp Glu Cys Ser Lys 725 730 735 Asp Asn Gly Gly Cys Gln His Glu Cys Val Asn Thr Met Gly Ser Tyr 740 745 750 Met Cys Gln Cys Arg Asn Gly Phe Val Leu His Asp Asn Lys His Asp 755 760 765 Cys Lys Glu Ala Glu Cys Glu Gln Lys Ile His Ser Pro Ser Gly Leu 770 775 780 Ile Thr Ser Pro Asn Trp Pro Asp Lys Tyr Pro Ser Arg Lys Glu Cys 785 790 795 800 Thr Trp Glu Ile Ser Ala Thr Pro Gly His Arg Ile Lys Leu Ala Phe 805 810 815 Ser Glu Phe Glu Ile Glu Gln His Gln Glu Cys Ala Tyr Asp His Leu 820 825 830 Glu Val Phe Asp Gly Glu Thr Glu Lys Ser Pro Ile Leu Gly Arg Leu 835 840 845 Cys Gly Asn Lys Ile Pro Asp Pro Leu Val Ala Thr Gly Asn Lys Met 850 855 860 Phe Val Arg Phe Val Ser Asp Ala Ser Val Gln Arg Lys Gly Phe Gln 865 870 875 880 Ala Thr His Ser Thr Glu Cys Gly Gly Arg Leu Lys Ala Glu Ser Lys 885 890 895 Pro Arg Asp Leu Tyr Ser His Ala Gln Phe Gly Asp Asn Asn Tyr Pro 900 905 910 Gly Gln Val Asp Cys Glu Trp Leu Leu Val Ser Glu Arg Gly Ser Arg 915 920 925 Leu Glu Leu Ser Phe Gln Thr Phe Glu Val Glu Glu Glu Ala Asp Cys 930 935 940 Gly Tyr Asp Tyr Val Glu Leu Phe Asp Gly Leu Asp Ser Thr Ala Val 945 950 955 960 Gly Leu Gly Arg Phe Cys Gly Ser Gly Pro Pro Glu Glu Ile Tyr Ser 965 970 975 Ile Gly Asp Ser Val Leu Ile His Phe His Thr Asp Asp Thr Ile Asn 980 985 990 Lys Lys Gly Phe His Ile Arg Tyr Lys Ser Ile Arg Tyr Pro Asp Thr 995 1000 1005 Thr His Thr Lys Lys 1010 20 base pairs nucleic acid single linear other nucleic acid /desc = “oligonucleotide primer” 6 CCAGCTTAAC CTGTTCACAC 20 20 base pairs nucleic acid single linear other nucleic acid /desc = “oligonucleotide primer” 7 AACTCTACTT CCACTTCATC 20 20 base pairs nucleic acid single linear other nucleic acid /desc = “oligonucleotide primer” 8 TCAGAACAGA AAGGAATGTG 20 20 base pairs nucleic acid single linear other nucleic acid /desc = “oligonucleotide primer” 9 GACCACTATT CCACATCACC 20 24 base pairs nucleic acid single linear other nucleic acid /desc = “oligonucleotide primer” 10 TCTTGCAGTC AGTTGCTTTG CTGG 24 28 base pairs nucleic acid single linear other nucleic acid /desc = “oligonucleotide primer” 11 TAGTGCGGCC GCACATTCCT TTGTGTTC 28 18 amino acids amino acid <Unknown> linear peptide 12 Cys Tyr Ile Arg Tyr Lys Ser Ile Arg Tyr Pro Glu Thr Met His Al 1 5 10 15 Lys Asn 18 amino acids amino acid <Unknown> linear peptide 13 Cys His Ile Arg Tyr Lys Ser Ile Arg Tyr Pro Asp Thr Thr His Th 1 5 10 15 Lys Lys 

We claim:
 1. A substantially purified preparation of a DNA molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 between nucleotides 1052 and
 3649. 2. A genetic construct comprising in 5′ to 3′ order: a transcriptional promoter active in a host cell; and a DNA fragment comprising a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 between nucleotides 1052 and
 3649. 3. A method for treating a wound, comprising the steps of: providing in a suitable host cell a genetic construct comprising a transcriptional promoter active in the host cell and a DNA fragment comprising a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 between nucleotides 1052 and 3649 so that a protein is encoded by the nucleotide sequence; and administering the protein to a wound in an amount effective to accelerate healing of the wound relative to an untreated wound.
 4. A substantially pure preparation of a protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 between amino acids 1 and
 1013. 5. A substantially purified preparation of a DNA molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:4 between nucleotides 1089 and
 3686. 6. A genetic construct comprising in 5′ to 3′ order: a transcriptional promoter active in a host cell; and a DNA fragment comprising a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:4 between nucleotides 1089 and
 3686. 7. A method for treating a wound, comprising the steps of: providing in a suitable host cell a genetic construct comprising a transcriptional promoter active in the host cell and a DNA fragment comprising a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:4 between nucleotides 1089 and 3686 so that a protein is encoded by the nucleotide sequence; and administering the protein to a wound in an amount effective to accelerate healing of the wound relative to an untreated wound.
 8. A substantially pure preparation of a protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5 between amino acids 1 and
 1013. 